The Spread of the Species Artemisia verlotionim Lamotte in Croatia

Azijska pridošlica Artemisia verlotiorum, poznata iz više europskih zemalja, u Hrvatskoj je zabilježena tek 1969. godine (Melzer 1969, Marković 1970). Uz nekoliko kasnije objavljenih nalazišta, brojni novi nalazi te vrste u primorju i unutrašnjosti Hrvatske pokazuju da se ona i dalje širi uz rubove cesta i drugim ruderalnim površinama, kao i uz rubove poplavnih šuma i šikara. U radu se iznosi sadašnje stanje rasprostranjenosti te biljne pridošlice u Hrvatskoj. Zahvaljujući razmnožavanju podzemnim vriježama i rastu u visokim i gustim sastojinama verlotov pelin se mjestimice ponaša kao vrlo agresivan neofit, koji potiskuje autohtonu vegetaciju, što je naročito vidljivo na rubovima poplavnih šuma i šikara.The Asian species Artemisia verlotiomm Lamote Is today widely distributed in many European countries. The first data on its occurrence in Croatia derive from Poreč in Istria (Melzer 1969) and from the banks of the Sava between the mouth of the Sutla and Rugvica (Marković 1970). In the last few years it was also found in the town of Split (Ilijanić et al. 199D and near the village of Lonja (Wattendorf 1997). Artemisia verlotiorum has now been collected or observed by us in many other localities in Croatia, where it forms dense populations and seems well established. The paper presents current knowledge on the distribution of this Asian newcomer in Croatia. Recent finds along the littoral and in the inland regions of Croatia show that this species continues to spread in various part of the country. It seems, that the species has three distribution centres in Croatia (Fig. 1), the First one in the western part of north Croatia (the valley of the Sava), the second one in the northern littoral (Istria and northern Kvarner and the third one in the central littoral (Dalmatia). Into the first centre, it was probably introduced from Slovenia. Into the second centre, it was probably introduced form northern Italy over the Slovenian littoral and into the third centre probably from the ports of Split and Ploče. In Croatia Artemisia verlotionim has especially been found growing in habitats influenced by human activities (roadsides, ruderal grounds, railway embankments and forest margins). Also it has been found on river banks at the borders of flood forests or their remains. Owing to its propagation by means of underground stolons and its growth in tall, dense stands, in many places this species suppresses autochtonous vegetation or prevents it from spreading. A consequence of this spread is the altered composition of the autochtonous vegetation, which is especially noticeable in the vegetation of forest edges along the banks of the Sava, where the species Artemisia verlotionim together with other neophytes (Helianthus tuberosas, Solidago gigantea, Reynoutria japónica, Asclepias syriaca and others) is taking a predominant place in the vegetation of the fores edges. Artemisia verlotionim represents a firmly naturalized neophytic species in Croatia and can be graded as an agriophyte on the banks of the Sava and as an epoekophyte on ruderal sites. Further expansion of its area in Croatia can certainly be expected